What an idiot ...
http://www.duluthsuperior.com/mld/du...r/10217932.htm
http://www.duluthsuperior.com/mld/du...r/10217932.htm
Quote:
| Madison radio host keeps up criticism of Rice JENNY PRICE Associated Press MADISON, Wis. - A radio talk show host who called Condoleezza Rice an "Aunt Jemima" issued an apology Friday, but not to Rice. "It is with a heavy heart that I apologize this morning to Aunt Jemima," said John "Sly" Sylvester, the program director and morning personality on WTDY-AM in Madison. "She wasn't a self-serving hack politician who got up in front of Congress and lied. Aunt Jemima didn't kowtow to Don Rumsfeld or Dick Cheney." Sylvester made his comments in conjunction with a giveaway of Aunt Jemima pancake mix and syrup to listeners. Sylvester, who is white, has said he called Rice "Aunt Jemima" on Wednesday's show to describe her and other blacks as having only a subservient role in the Bush administration. He also referred to current Secretary of State Colin Powell as an "Uncle Tom" - a contemptuous term for a black whose behavior toward whites is regarded as fawning or servile. Tom Walker, general manager for Mid-West Family Broadcast Group, which owns the station, said he doesn't agree with Sylvester's statements but defended his right to free speech. "He has the right to do it and say it," Walker said after Friday morning's broadcast. "As long as he isn't hateful and as long as he isn't racist, I'm fine with it." But Kweisi Mfume, president of the NAACP, said Sylvester's attacks on Rice "are just as bad as those who hide under sheets and burn crosses." Mfume said Rice is "an example of how far hard work, education and determination can take one to new heights." Walker said listeners are welcome to call in and disagree with Sylvester and that part of a radio talk show host's job is to "push buttons" so people pick up the phone. "The only thing I fear is that he enjoys the notoriety of this so much he keeps fanning the flames," Walker said. Sylvester, who did not return a message Friday, told listeners he would resign if his employer lost advertisers or was hurt by the uproar over his comments. He said Aunt Jemima was really a "strong, independent black woman" named Nancy Green. Green, born a slave in Kentucky, was hired in the 1890s to advertise the pancake mix. "Aunt Jemima never lied about yellow cake uranium, she just makes a damn good pancake," he said. Madison Mayor Dave Cieslewicz called Sylvester's earlier remarks "racially insensitive," while Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Wis., said in a statement he joined "all Wisconsinites in rejecting" the statements. The incident came after Mark Belling of WISN Radio in Milwaukee had his talk show taken off the air all of last week after using the word "wetback" to refer to undocumented Mexican immigrants. That sparked protests from the Hispanic community. |
